uterus Latin · revision 5457

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *(H)ud-ér-o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈʊ.tɛ.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈuː.te.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''uterus''' ''m'' (genitive uterī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*udero-]], from [[ine-pro|*(H)ud-ér-o-|t=outer, sticking out]], a derivative of *ud “out”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[sa|उदर|tr=udára|t=belly]] and [[grc|ὕδερος|tr=húderos|t=dropsy]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The /t/ for expected /d/ is unexplained: Walde and Hofmann suggested the influence of [[uter]] “leather bag”, while Hilmarsson thought it arose by syncope in the oblique cases.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus, who also has the neuter form ''uterum''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) In Plautus Alcmena's labour pains begin in the womb.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant the belly or abdomen of persons and animals, and specifically the womb, and so pregnancy or the unborn child.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) By transfer it was used of cavities like the womb, such as the inside of the Trojan horse, and of the bulging part of anything.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval Latin kept both senses, belly and womb.^(DMLBS) [[en|uterus]] was borrowed as a medical word in the late 14th century, and it passed in the same way into [[fr|utérus]] and [[it|utero]].^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of labour pains in the womb.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''uterus'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|belly]], [[m|en|abdomen]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # The [[m|en|womb]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # An internal cavity; the bulging part of something.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[uterculus]]

+ * [[uterīnus]]

+ * [[venter]]

+ * [[en|uterus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Besides masculine ''uterus'' there are a neuter ''uterum'' in Plautus and a nominative ''uter'' in Caecilius.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}